How to use the construction worker shortage to your advantage

In a recent report on U.S. News, the construction industry is dealing with a workforce crisis. The demand for construction work so far in 2018, which by all accounts would normally be considered a boon, is becoming a serious challenge for developers and contractors. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, through the first quarter of 2018, employers have been looking to fill an average of nearly 225,000 construction jobs each month.

While there is no silver bullet to solving this problem in the short term (according to the 2018 Q2 Commercial Construction Index report, 47 percent of those surveyed believe the situation will continue to worsen over the next six months), ultimately the industry, as well as our institutions, have to do a better job of improving public perception of what it means to be a tradesperson. This includes, among other things, removing the stigma of trade degrees over traditional four-year degrees, as well as opening up millennials to the lucrative opportunities that are now available in the field.

So what does this all mean for businesses that are targeting construction firms and developers with their software and services?

A giant pain point has opened up that you can take advantage of. Contractors are having to do more with less—which means that during all stages of the sales cycle, you should be hammering home how your company can help them manage and maintain (or even improve) their current project timelines.

The construction boom isn’t going anywhere, but neither is the worker shortage. If you’re looking to get decision makers in the construction industry to sit up and take notice of your services, you must pivot your messaging for the foreseeable future to show them how you can help alleviate the mounting pressure to pursue as much of the building boom pie without biting off more than they can chew.

Not sure where to start? Give the construction PR experts at Ripley PR a call at 865-977-1973. We’ve got the experience and stay up to date on the latest trends in the industry to ensure you’re communicating the best possible message to get the most out of your budget.